THOROUGHPIN IO9 



THOROUGHPIN. 



In treating of wind-galls, we described certain 

 little bags or sacs, containing a fluid for lubricating 

 the joints. These, we mentioned, sometimes become 

 inflamed and enlarged : similar sacs are situated 

 contiguous to the hock-joint, and these also are 

 liable to inflammation, and produce swellings of 

 greater or lesser dimensions immediately under the 

 strong tendon which unites with the cap of the hock. 

 These swellings generally protrude on both sides, 

 in the form of round swellings. Sometimes when 

 the coverings of the tumour yield more readily in 

 one direction than another, it will protrude princi- 

 pally in that part. The nature of the complaint is 

 precisely the same as wind-galls, but from its situation 

 has been termed thoroughpin (see Plate vii, fig. 3, e e, 

 and fig. 5, b, b). These swellings generally produce 

 stiffness of the joint, which sometimes wears off when 

 exercise has induced absorption of the fluid which 

 these bags contain. However, it is only when the 

 sacs become large that they occasion any incon- 

 venience to the action of the limb. Many persons 

 think thoroughpin of but little consequence ; but after 

 a hard day s work, a horse will always manifest stiff- 

 ness in the joint in which these swellings exist. And 

 although a horse cannot strictly be called unsound 

 which is afflicted with thoroughpin, still a purchaser, 

 when he notices these, should otherwise examine the 

 horse with care, to discover, if possible, that they 

 have not been induced by previous hard work, which 

 will sooner or later tell on the animal. 



Treatment. — The same remedies as recommended 

 in wind-galls are applicable to this complaint. But 



